MANCELONA — The Kalkaska softball team has had outstanding success in recent seasons, posting a school-record 31 wins in 2008 and 29 more wins this year. One thing the Blazers have not been able to do, however, is find a way to beat Gladstone in the Division 3 regional.
The Blazers have won six district titles in a row and Gladstone has been their nemesis the last three. On Saturday, Gladstone did it again, earning a 4-1 victory over the Blazers in the title game. It marked the seventh straight regional championship for the Braves.
"We can't seem to find a way to get past them," said Kalkaska coach Rick Ponstein. "Obviously, they're a very good program and they're well-coached. But we have a good program, too, and I know we can play with them.
"Today, we got down early and started pressing a little bit."
Gladstone scored twice in the first inning when centerfielder Abby Riggio, pitcher Mackenzie Shepeck and catcher Allie Carlson each singled.
It would prove to be all the cushion required for Shepeck, a hard-throwing sophomore. She fanned 14 and permitted just two hits, singles off the bats of seniors Abby Merrill and Maria Harbour.
Gladstone added single runs in the third and fifth off Kalkaska junior lefty Jennifer Spann, who permitted eight hits and struck out three.
Trailing 4-0, Kalkaska got its lone run in the sixth when Merrill walked, reached third on a fielding error, then scored on a long sacrifice fly to right from senior Kara Ponstein.
"Kalkaska always gives us a battle," said Gladstone coach Gerry Smith. "It seems like we face them every year. We were able to get the early lead and that always helps in games like this.
"Mackenzie was throwing really well, staying around the strike zone and challenging the hitters. The girls did a nice job behind her defensively."
Gladstone (32-6) advances to Tuesday's quarterfinals at Traverse City Central. Kalkaska closes out with a 29-11 mark.
"I'm very happy with our season," Ponstein said. "We lost a lot of upperclassmen to graduation but this year's team took up the challenge and got almost as many wins."
Kalkaska defeated Charlevoix 3-2 in the regional opener. The Blazers took a 3-0 lead and held off a late charge to secure the win. Neither Kalkaska's Spann nor Charlevoix sophomore pitcher Hannah Hybil gave up an earned run.
Merrill scored two runs and had two hits for the Blazers and Ponstein and Taren Fales had RBIs.
The Rayders (15-16-2) tallied both of their runs in the fifth when Chelsie Hoffman and Amber Hoffman singled and scored on a passed ball and a throwing error.
In the seventh, senior Kristin Bradley drilled a one-out triple to put the tying run at third for Charlevoix. Spann was able to coax pop outs from Ericka Faust and Amber Hoffman to end the game, however, and clinch a berth in the finals and a rematch with Gladstone.
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